Scottie Scheffler takes a well-earned week off as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. The Masters champion has won four of his last five tournaments, finishing second in the other, but will skip this week’s event in Louisiana.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay will be in attendance, however, as TPC Louisiana – a par 72, 7,425-yard course – hosts a doubles event, with this years' tournament including two rounds of fourballs and two rounds of foursomes.
There are several exciting partnerships that are likely to conten. World number five Schauffele and eight Cantlay pair together - a headline combination - while McIlroy joins forces with Shane Lowry.
Other high-ranking partnerships include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Shaitha Theegala as well as Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick.
Schauffele and Cantlay will likely obtain the majority of support from the casual punters as well as favourite hunters. The 30-year-old Schauffele has seven top 10 finishes in 10 events this season and boasts metrics of third, third and 18th in total shots gained, scoring average and birdie average in 2024.
Cantlay has earned five top 25 finishes, with two top 10 placings this term, but is middling in the statistical categories, making this pair's favouritism at 4/1 very short.
One partnership we do like further down the rankings is Tom Hoge and Maverick McNeally. We tipped Hoge for a Top 20 finish last week and he duly delivered – he ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in scoring average, ninth in birdie average, 10th in putting average and 18th in totals shots gained.
McNeally, meanwhile, is 17th in scoring, 17th in total shots gained and sixth in putts per round. As a combination they have 10 top 25 finishes this season and four top 10s.
Prices of 25/1 to win, 17/4 to finish top five and 2/1 to finish top 10 are all palatable, with 5/6 for a top 20 finish a decent parlay addition.
Another slightly bigger priced pair includes Billy Horschel who romped to victory at last week's Carales Puntacana Championship recording a –23 under par masterclass.
The American has three top 10s and five top 25s in 10 tournaments in 2024 including three top 12 finishes in his last four outings. He is seventh on PGA Tour in scoring average, 10th in total shots gained and is eighth in greens hit during regulation.
He teams up with Tyson Alexander, a player yet to finish in the top 10 this season, thus the emphasis will be on Horschel to maintain his strong form. The pair is 40/1 to win and 11/10 to finish Top 20.
Best bets
· Tom Hoge and Maverick McNally to win – 25/1
· Tom Hoge and Maverick McNally to finish Top Five – 2/1
